Conversations with Daaji, February 2017
Ahmedabad, India
The need for etiquette
Daaji arrived in Ahmedabad on the morning of 5 February. Daaji’s visits to Milan and France had gone very well, and the talk he gave in Montpellier on ‘The March to Freedom’ was received with a resolve by one and all to go deeper into the literature and study our books in earnest.
Even though he appears to be well, Daaji has extreme sensitivity to the environment and events around him, and this has a direct effect on his health. So please respect his personal time: it will help if we do not crowd around him or expect attention from him for our individual personal needs. Health and time permitting, he will himself become more accessible to us. The cooperation from our side is very much needed and reflects in our etiquette around him.
On landing, Daaji, went to his home in Ahmedabad and was very happy to be greeted by his mother and brother. He rested that morning at home and much to the surprise of everyone arrived at Ahmedabad zonal ashram at 5:00 p.m., immediately conducting satsangh for the local abhyasis, and a group of 150 people from 38 countries attending the International Scholar Training (ISTP) program.
Despite the repeated requests not to expect personal attention from Daaji, there were instances when abhyasis presented certain situations and matters, often just before he was about to conduct satsangh. In Sahaj Marg we spend 10-15 minutes preparing ourselves for meditation, but instead, some of us tend to use this impactful time waiting for Daaji in line. His mind is also on satsangh, which is unfortunately diverted in demanded listening. Abhyasis are encouraged to write to him if they need his attention for important spiritual needs at kamlesh<at>srcm.org.
Morning meditation time: fix it and stick with it, no matter what
Beloved Daaji learnt that a group of new abhyasis who came from Vietnam were leaving in the morning, so he invited them and answered a few questions, addressing each abhyasi by name during the brief chat he had with them.
He mentioned that timing is important in life, and correct reciprocation is a MUST within a reasonable time period. He gave the example of saying thank you to a friend 30 days after receiving a favour. He asked, “Is it good to say thanks after 30 days?” He also gave another example of employees coming at different times each day for work. How does this affect their performance and the culture in the office? In the same way, imagine the impact we can have if we respect the time for meditation every day.
Our system associates itself with the time and reacts differently if we keep changing the time of meditation. He suggested that we fix the time and stick to it even if we meditate for 5 minutes or 10 minutes. Nature tolerates us if we change the timing and still provides us so much satisfaction despite our irregularity, but when we meditate with precision the world changes, at least in our heart. God also witnesses: when we make efforts to change, His help multiplies a 100 times more.
Our life will change very fast when we practice regularly at a fixed time. If we program our mind to wake up at a fixed time, then we wake up automatically. He further suggested that we must not limit the length of meditation before starting, but let it end by itself. Never put a time limit on meditation; keep it open.
Bring intensity into service and abhyas effortlessly
On the morning of 6 February, Daaji prepared a batch of 202 prefects who had undergone a three-month preparatory process. The sitting was given remotely to the group. After meditation Daaji spent some time with the scholars. During a talk given to them he spoke about serving the Master and paying attention to personal sadhana. He said that we should not think about experiences or expect something to happen while meditating. Instead, we should relax and let the Master fill us with transmission, without any expectations. He called this ‘effortless effort’. Daaji has been speaking about this concept, which is based on Maharishi Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra called ‘Prayatna Shithilikaran’.
Daaji mentioned that often the first sitting is the best sitting, because the new seeker taking the first sitting has no expectations and does not know what to expect. In the second, third and subsequent sittings, they expect their experience to be the same or better than what they experienced first, and this is when the problem starts.
Effort is generally because we are anxious to do things, and anxiety to do things spoils the experience. Effortlessness reflects a level of confidence. One doesn’t need confidence when surrendered. Confidence, courage and peace are not required once there is surrender. Surrender surpasses peace.
Meditation is transcendental: have you transcended?
Answering a question about conditions, Daaji said, “I can let someone stay at our house or let him drive our car for a month, but that doesn’t mean the person owns that house or car.” A spiritual condition is also like that. When Master transmits from wherever he is, it is transcendental. When he transmits, the essence will be felt even at a very high pitch, but that does not mean that abhyasi is at that high pitch. It is a borrowed experience or borrowed condition that gives the experience.
“Now that we have experienced it, we have to make it as ours by complete absorption or drowning in that condition. One can stay absorbed in an experience; one can stay absorbed in a condition; one can also stay absorbed in the Master. Absorption in the Master is the most beneficial for the abhyasi.
“In short, the condition becomes yours because now you have made the borrowed state as your very own. There cannot be any fall when such is the case.”
Understanding Transmission
Daaji conducted morning satsangh at 10 a.m. After the satsangh he continued with his talk that touched upon some very important aspects of transmission.
“The most suitable word that describes yogic transmission is pranahuti. Dr K.C. Varadachari, an early disciple of Babuji Maharaj and a scholar, found reference to the word pranahuti in the Upanishads, where it is described as pranasya pranaha. It can also be described as the life-giving force.
“But we already have a life within us in the form of the soul and it gives us the constant and continuous impulse of existence. Then the questions arises, is the soul not sufficient enough to continue with our existence? Here is an example to understand this better. In India, especially during hot summers, leaves are completely dry and the trees appear as if they are going to die. Their life seems lost, though the roots silently sustain their existence by absorbing the nutrients underground to the extent possible.
“On the first burst of rains, life begins to blossom again. There is much joy all-round. Life begins to thrive again! Our life is also like the parched trees. The soul exists, but it barely has an expression in our existence. The moment we get the first transmission from the Master, life changes. The transmission brings freshness and vitality to our existence. So, it is up to all of us, the recipients of transmission to make use of it in the right way. That is where we all differ. Some receive it and they abandon the practice after some time. Some of us who are here also do not take advantage of it the way we should.
“When rain falls on fertile soil versus the desert, we can see how the different soils respond to this rain. Likewise, each soul responds to pranahuti differently. If we sit in meditation with a lot of arrogance, and with an inappropriate attitude, saying, “Yes Master, give me transmission!” how do you think we would receive transmission? He may give it to us, but our outer and inner disposition is not geared towards receiving it. It is like rain falling on desert soil.
Per contra when we are receptive with humility, when there is a vacuum within us, an emotional vacuum, then it pours in, we receive it and it pervades all throughout the system and does its job. In no time, we become automatic conduits. Preceptors are not the only conduits in our Mission; all abhaysis are also conduits spreading the essence of Sahaj Marg through this pranahuti.
From the desk of Daaji
In this section, we share with you excerpts of emails sent by Daaji to abhyasis in various parts of the globe.
Context
An abhyasi sent a note to Daaji about discord and the inability to reconcile differences with another. The abhyasi wrote the note seeking counsel on how to proceed further in the relationship.
Daaji’s reply
Dear sister,
What I understand in reading your note is this:
1. We have one life, so we must enjoy and enrich it.
If we look at life as Existence, comprising many lives, then we can appreciate the need to remain conscientious, since we do not know which debt we are paying. Moreover, the definition of enjoyment varies from person to person. And that is where the problems start, especially when it comes to thinking of the ‘other’ versus ‘myself’.
It is passion that demands fulfilment of personal pleasures. While for the sake of compassion, we go to any length to satisfy the other. The bond of love between a mother and her children is beyond even compassion, where the mother is not even cognizant of her affection.
2. What is the price one must to pay for the sake of goodness?
No price is too big. The knot is formed due to differences at some level. Usually it is arising out of disagreement. In love, disagreement should not rule our lives. It is this love that makes the other acceptable.
I will not write more. I hope this much will make you think.
With Prayers to Beloved Master for His love and blessings,
Kamlesh
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